[quote]thrasher wrote:
I have a friend who worked at UPS and the job your describing is called a “box handler”. The entire shift she lifted heavy boxes. You gotta decide what’s more important to you, free college, or a bad back.[/quote]
I worked at UPS for close to four years and mostly loved the job. That “bad back” comment is BS. Just lift smart, be in decent shape and you will be fine.
I had more of a problem with the hours I was working – 3 am - 9 am. Getting up that early gets old fast. And, no, I never got used to it.
Anyway, I don’t know where you got your information on tuition reimbursment; they didn’t offer that when I worked there. It was available only to supervisors(which is easy to become in four years).
I would think the part time hours would be the deciding factor in your choice. Can you live off part time hours? If not, are you willing to get a second job?
I always had a second job and it usually worked out nice. Since UPS would be like your “main job”, your other job can be a easy, gravy job. I bartended for a while. I delivered pizzas. I even worked in an after school sports program for elementary school children. Nothing too hard there, except the horrible sleep patterns.
I don’t know what shift you’re looking into at UPS, but realize with a second job you will probably have a difficult time having a normal sleep schedule.
Another thing to take into consideration is that it is a union job and all the package car drivers are union members. This means that about half of them are spoiled “union-babies”. They won’t do anything more than required, won’t give a hand, and will whine about any and everything. Of course if you only load and unload the feeder trucks(the semis) than you won’t ever deal with them.
Don’t forget about Christmas time either. Beginning towards the end of October your hours will slowly increase. The 3 weeks before Christmas you will likely be working 6-8 hours a shift. And that’s a long time to be picking up and moving around boxes. Be sure you can handle the volume the holidays bring.
Ultimately you have to decide how you want to make the money to go to school. UPS is not the only company that offers tuition reimbursement. It is a good part time job that offers benefits; if you can handle the physical aspect. I may be wrong, but I think Starbucks offer benefits to its part time employees as well; I’m not sure. I don’t know if they have a tuition reimbursement plan either.
Here are what I feel are the pros and cons of UPS employment:
Pros:
Good health coverage and other benefits for part time employment.
Union protection.
Tuition reimbursement.
A workout every workday.
Flexibilty, since it is only a part time job. Frees up the rest of your day.
UPS promotes from within so there is plenty of opportunity for advancement if you stay with the company.
Cons:
It’s only part time.
It’s union, so promotion and raises are based upon union guidelines, not necessarily performance(unless you become a non-union employee).
A workout every workday.
Working hours can be rough, depending on your shift.
Christmas season is brutal.
I loved the work and the job and planned on staying until I could get a full time position. However, I worked in southern California, a very large union area, and still had at least 3 years to wait before getting full time.
I ended up leaving for a few reasons. I got promoted at on of my other jobs. I just couldn’t handle waking up that early anymore. I planned on moving out of California soon, also.
I hope I helped some and wish you luck with your decision. Good luck with whichever route you take.
Don’t be afraid to make the wrong decision,
Toddy